THEORETICAL ASPECTS OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN TRANSPORT AND LOGISTICS
Marta Kadłubek PhD
Czestochowa University of Technology Faculty of Management
Institute of Logistics and International Management
INTRODUCTION
As a result of changes taking place in the modern economy, the paradigm of sustainable development is becoming increasingly common. Nowadays, more and more areas open to sustainable development, which is one of the most difficult and most characteristic challenges of the 21st century. Responsible Business Forum confirms that the sustainability of economic, environmental and social elements is a great challenge to every business entity and management area, particularly with reference to the policy preferred by large corporations, whose main objective is to generate profit [16]. On the other hand, B. Żelazko underlines that it is not possible to generate profit , both in a shorter and longer time perspective, without concern for social and environmental aspects [19].
According to R. Borowiecki and T. Rójek, sustainable development of business entities and management areas is, apart from corporate governance and value and development management, one of the most crucial modern management concepts [2].
As R. Jedynak indicates, management in the concept of sustainability is a very important development trend, both in the area of science and business practice [6].
These words are confirmed, among others, in a large number of publications on this topic and an increasing number of organizations and management areas, which recognized the elements of the concept of sustainable development as the priority ones [1].
The management area of the complex nature of links with the economy and the natural environment is transport. As a multidimensional system, it is conditioned multi-territorially, among others, with the location of cities and villages, the sphere of production and services etc. While constituting the basis of modern economies, transport should be sustainable, and its sustainability ought to take place in the following spheres: economic, social, ecological and spatial. The aim of the present paper is to outline the theoretical assumptions of sustainable development with reference to management areas and, particularly, to the areas of transport and logistics.
THE CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
In the subject literature, the issue of sustainable development has been the subject of the debate for many years now. It is of the multidimensional nature. R.
Borowiecki and T. Rojek, in their paper on turning points in the management practice, define sustainable development as “the process of changes in which exploitation of resources, investment directions, technical progress directions and institutional changes are in harmony with and provide, currently and in the future, the opportunities to
DOI: 10.26649/musci.2015.035
satisfy human needs and aspirations” [2]. In turn, Ch. Laszlo and N. Zhexembayeva specify the concept of sustainable development as including the environmental and social value in the core of business, with no changes in properties and quality [7]. The aim of the area, defined in this way, is neither green nor sustainable responsibility itself, but, as B. Nogalski and S. Klisz indicate, responding to the market needs in the way which will allow to strengthen the existing strategy or to develop a better one [9]. At the same time, according to the approach suggested by the Word Commission on Environment and Development [14], the economic, ecological and social goals should be equal so that the needs of the present generation could be satisfied without reducing the chances of future generations for their satisfaction.
Sustainable development amounts to the fulfilment of the expectations of the whole of stakeholders by increasingly effective production of socially desirable goods and services with simultaneous reduction in the use of natural resources and respect for the policy of the environmental protection. According to M.
Romanowska, with reference to the management area, the priority is to achieve balance between its effectiveness and profitability and social interest [10]. In turn, the company of sustainable development is the one which develops sustainable value with the consideration of social and ecological effects [12].
However, it is worth noting that, basically, the concept of sustainable development, for every enterprise, may amount to something different. Nowadays, this term, in business environments, is identified with innovativeness and success. Moreover, according to the inf ormation posted on the website - www.e-logistyka.pl:
“the popularization of the best practices in the area of sustainability has been recognized, by the member corporations, as one of the main pillars of the enterprise activity”. The significance of the analyzed concept is also underlined by the comment of the Director of Business Development in the Polish division of DB Schenker Logistics, M. Pachniak-Radzińska, published on one of the business websites, where it can be learned that, actually, “sustainable development has no alternative” [15]. It should constitute a common goal of business and also all other participants of economic and social life.
THE LINKS BETWEEN THE CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND THE AREA OF TRANSPORT AND LOGISTICS
The direct link between the concept of sustainable development and the area of logistics, including transport, is, among others, indicated by H. Brdulak. Among the motives of taking actions in the field of sustainable development, apart from the will to distinguish oneself from competitors, to satisfy clients’ expectations and the opportunity to build competitive advantage, the author also lists, among others, reduction in logistics costs [4].
The aspects similar to the above are noticed by A. Kosobucka: “since more and more enterprises are increasingly aware of the fact that running a business in a sustainable way increases their advantage on the market as, in this way, they use their own resources more effectively (...). They know that, with their activity, they not only build a positive image but also they reduce costs, achieve competitive advantage and bring about the environmental protection " [17].
In addition, the model of sustainability may also bring about the reduction in business risk or even prevent the appearance of crisis both of the economic and non- economic nature in the enterprise or in the management area.
Logistics enables the development of social, ecological and spatial order since, in the environmentally oriented logistics system, the environmental and economic goals are treated equally. “Sustainable logistics is not only the fulfilment of expectations and requirements imposed, among others, by the EU regulations, but, most of all, a natural direction of development of every enterprise, which wants to compete on the local or world market in a responsible and perspective way” [8].
Among the most important elements of sustainable logistics there are such solutions of the conceptual and technological nature as [11]:
- just-in-time,
- effective customer service, - rapid responding,
- reengineering of logistics processes, - intelligent transport systems,
- “clean” logistics process, - sustainable supply chains, - logistics centers.
On the other hand, transport is the management area of the multidimensional nature of links and dependencies with the economy, the society and the natural environment, underlined, among others, by E. Załoga [18]. As the complex system, it is determined by numerous elements which, among others, may include: location of settlement systems, models of consumption or organization of production – in a certain area. In spite of the complex nature, being “the circulation system” of the economy, transport should be sustainable and its sustainability ought to proceed along the axis: economic, social, ecological and spatial.
European Federation for Transport and Environment defined sustainable development in the following way: “the movement which satisfies the needs for mobility of the present generations while, simultaneously, caring for the condition of the environment, living conditions and opportunities for economic development of future generations, expressing the share of transport in the development of the concept of sustainable development” [13].
It should be underlined that there are differentiated the concepts of
“sustainable transport” and “sustainable development of transport”. The concept of sustainable development of transport is understood as the process of evolution in the transport sector, which has the properties of increasing sustainability [3]. On the other hand, the concept of sustainable transport is referred to the effect of transport sustainability, though the effect of transport sustainability is also defined as the system of sustainable transport or transport system sustainability [3].
CONCLUSIONS
In the light of the presented theoretical basis referring to the issues of sustainable development and the areas of transport and logistics, it is possible to specify the concepts of sustainable transport and logistics. They should evenly reflect varied
economic, social and environmental goals7. Sustainable transport and logistics are the effect of the process of sustainability in the sector of transport and logistics, which possess the properties of: environmental awareness, economic optimality, social justification, political responsibility. The first property is understood as considering the environmental or ecological aspect – negative impact of transport and logistics on the environment, including the natural environment. On the other hand, economic optimality is expressed by prices which reflect the actual nature of costs borne to produce transport or logistics service (considered as goods). Social justification is expressed by the category of availability and mobility, which means, by providing access to all members of the society to transport and logistics services. On the other hand, political responsibility is understood as the decision-making process, properly conducted by the authorities, considering all the previous properties [11].
With reference to the presented theories, it should be noted that the potential of the entity or the management area, considerably based on sustainable management, leads towards the creation of long-term values [5]. While looking at the above comments, it is possible to come to the conclusion that the concept of sustainable development, which is consistently implemented by enterprises or management areas, may bring about the improvement in the conditions of their operation in the contemporary world. Changing social expectations cause that the implementation of the assumptions of that concept more and more frequently begins to be seen in terms of measurable benefits, also in the areas of transport and logistics.
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